Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;Moondance&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Moondance’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with large purple marks; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Moondance’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Moondance’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Moondance’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Rene Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Moondance’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Tzeng-Wen Sentra’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Cygnus’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Moondance’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2007 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in November, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Moondance’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are white with large purple marks;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Moondance’, the female parent ‘Tzeng-Wen Sentra’ has red/purple flowers and the male parent ‘Cygnus’ has white colored flowers, whereas the flowers of ‘Moondance’ are white with large purple marks

Presently, there is no other commercial cultivar to which ‘Moondance’ can be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Moondance’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Moondance’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Moondance’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Moondance’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Moondance’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Moondance’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Moondance’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Moondance’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Moondance’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Moondance’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Moondance’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Moondance’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Tzeng-Wen Sentra’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Cygnus’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-6             mm wide and green in color (RHS 163B); freely branching. It             takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to             initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 65 cm Spread: about 65 cm.         -   Growth habit.—large; green leaves and a relatively normal             raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 5 to 6 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—3 to 4 pairs of leaves.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 12 to 28 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 6 to 10 mm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under             side: green (RHS 137B).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS N137A) under side: red/purple (RHS 137D). -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 5 to 8.         -   Length.—about 60 to 80 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 3 to 6 mm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—green (RHS 137B).         -   Internode.—Length: about 45 to 52 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 31 mm Diameter (at             midpoint): about 25 mm Shape: egg-shaped Color: yellow/green             (RHS 144B) with purple marks (RHS 79A).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2             racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers             per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected             approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a             leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—no fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: see FIG. 2 Size:             Height; about 89 mm to 100 mm Diameter: about 93 mm to 100             mm Depth of tube: about 12 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: six petals that are             trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are             more pronounced than sepals Arrangement: Inner whorl of             petals comprises 3 petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2             lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate, bit triangular             and weakly cupped Apex: oval and weakly undulate Margin:             entire and weakly undulate Base: broadly ovate Length: about             55 mm Width: about 45 mm Texture: Upper surface: smooth and             satiny Under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully             opened): upper side: white/green (RHS 157B/155C), with some             purple spots (RHS N79A) with lighter purple edges (RHS N78B)             Under side: white (RHS 157A/RHS 155C) with some purple spots             (RHS N79A) with lighter purple edges (RHS N79D) Labellum:             Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at             central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the             midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the             column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2             short filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the             labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular             with a bump and a rib on it Margin: entire and weakly             undulate Apex: lateral lobes: oval Midlobe: round corners             Length: about 21 mm Width (not flattened): about 20 mm             Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny Color             (when fully opened): Midlobe: upper surface: At the base             yellow (RHS 6B), grey/purple (RHS 187B) on the sides and a             line in the center. In between some red/purple (RHS 72B) and             at the end some white (RHS NN155B). Under surface: At the             base some yellow (RHS 6B) edges in the corners, than             grey/purple (RHS 187B) which runs into red/purple (RHS 72B).             From base till other side in the center some white (RHS             NN155B). Lateral lobes: upper surface: At the base             grey/purple (RHS 187A) which runs into red/purple (RHS 72B).             At the top white (RHS NN155B) and lower edge is yellow (RHS             13A). Under surface: at the base some white (RHS N155A),             which runs into grey/purple (RHS 187A). At the top a small             edge of red/purple (RHS 72B). The upper half is white (RHS             NN155B) and the lower half is yellow (RHS 13A). Chirri: long             (about 15 mm) and wavy color: white (RHS NN155B) with yellow             tips (RHS 13B) Pestle (Callosities): Length: about 4 mm             Width (not flattened): about 3 mm Color: Top is grey/purple             (RHS N187B), sides are grey/yellow (RHS 162A). On the front             there is a grey/purple (RHS N187A) line down the middle.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall             shape: elliptical and weakly cupped Margin: entire and             weakly undulate Length: about 47 mm Width: about 31 mm Apex:             dorsal: round/oval lateral: oval tapering to a point             Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny Color             (when fully opened): upper surface: main color dorsal sepal             is white (RHS 155C/157B) and lateral sepals is green/white             (RHS 157A). Both have purple marks (RHA N79A) surrounded by             a purple rim (RHS N78B) . Under surface: main color lateral             sepals is yellow/green (RHS 149D with RHS 149C) and dorsal             sepal is white (RHS 155C and RHS 149B). They both have             purple marks (RHS N79B with RHS N79C). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 9 mm Diameter: about 6 mm Color: white             (RHS NN155B) with at the base little red/purple (RHS N74A)             which runs into RHS N74D.         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two Diameter: about 1 mm Color: orange             (RHS 24B).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm Diameter: about 1.5 mm Color:             white (RHS NN155B).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 45 to 52 mm Diameter: about 4 mm             Texture: glabrous and smooth Color: from yellow/green (RHS             149D) into purple (RHS N77C) into grey/purple (RHS N186A). -   Disease/pest resistance susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Moondance’, as illustrated and described herein. 